Top Wineries to Visit on the Dry Creek
Valley Wine Trail - A Two-Day Excursion
West Dry Creek Road
To
begin this tour, head out from the Healdsburg Plaza and go south
on Healdsburg Ave. Turn right on Mill St. Take Mill St. under Highway
101. In just a very short distance turn right at West Dry Creek Road.
You should see a set of arrows pointing to the wineries. Turn right
and travel on West Dry Creek Road, one of the prettiest and quietest
roads you will find in wine country. This is the perfect spot for
a wine country picnic. Be sure to pack your lunch from the great
deli's in the area. See our list of places to picnic on
this trail. There are many interesting wineries on this wine
trail. |
Quivera Vineyards
|
Winery Descriptions, Driving directions, Tasting Room Hours
Lambert
Bridge Winery
About four miles into your drive on West Dry Creek Road, you will
come to the first winery on our list, Lambert Bridge. It’s
on the left side of the road in a quiet and very peaceful setting.
Lambert Bridge is a great place for your picnic lunch or to just
sit for a while and take in the serenity of this spot. The gardens,
surrounding vineyards, and quiet country road make this a must
stop. It is especially attractive in the fall when you can see
the various colors displayed by the surrounding vineyards and
trees. Merlot is Lambert Bridge’s specialty, accounting
for 50% of its production of 22,000 cases of wine per year. All
the wines are quite good and the tasting room has a warm and comfortable
atmosphere. The Sauvignon Blanc is delicious and is a perfect match
for your picnic lunch. The tasting fee is $10, higher than most
wineries in the area.
Tasting room open daily from 10:30 to 4:30 pm., (800) 975-0555,
e-mail: wines@lambertbridge.com, Lambert
Bridge Winery
Michel-Schlumberger
Continue on West Dry Creek Road for about another mile and
just past Lambert Bridge Road, take a left turn on Wine Creek Road.
Michel Schlumberger is up about one mile. If you decide to visit
this winery, call a couple of days before to schedule an appointment
for your visit. A variety of tours and tastings are available. Michel-Schlumberger
features delicious Bordeaux style wines, particularly beautifully
crafted Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate Dry Creek vineyards.
Picnic facilities are available.
Tasting Room is open by appointment only, 800-447-3060
Michel-Schlumberger
Quivira
Vineyards
From Lambert Bridge continue along West Dry Road. After passing
the turnoff for Lambert Bridge Road continue on West Dry Creek
Road for another one third of a mile to Quivira Vineyards. This
winery is also family owned. New owners recently acquired the winery
and have continued the philosophy of biodynamic farming. A new garden
patch is located at the entrance of the winery to demonstrate biodyanmic
farming.
Tasting room open daily, 11:00 to 5 pm.
(800)-292-8339, e-mail:quivira@quivirawine.com Quivira
Vineyards
Hawley Vineyards & Winery
The next winery is easy to miss but try
not to because it is one of these secret gems. From Quivera, continue
on West Dry Creek Road for about one mile. There is just a small
sign on the left pointing up the hill to Hawley Vineyards and
Winery. Follow the road up the hill for approximately a half
mile. John Hawley and his family work this winery and make 5000
cases of wine annually. This is a down-to-earth winery with no
frills, just very good wines. Don’t miss
the barrel fermented Viognier.
Tasting Room is open by appointment, but you are more than likely
to find someone there to open the tasting room.
(707) 431 2705,
e-mail: info@hawleywine.com, Hawley
Winery & Vineyards
Preston
Vineyards
From Quivira, drive to the end of West Dry Creek Road. Follow the
signs to Preston Vineyards. Preston Vineyards is a very unique
and enjoyable winery to visit. Once you enter the tasting room
you’ll
sense a very different atmosphere from most wineries. Besides great
wines at Preston you will be able to buy some delicious breads
and fabulous olive oil, both made on the premises. The owners,
Lou and Susan Preston, recently changed their winemaking strategy
and did the unusual. They cut back wine production from 25,000
cases to 8000 cases. They are concentrating on making fewer and
better varietals and farming their vineyards organically.
Tasting room open daily 11 to 4:30 pm
(800) 305 9707, e-mail: mail@prestonvineyards.com, Preston
Vineyards
Bella Vineyards
This is the very last winery on West Dry Creek Road. As you near
the end of the West Dry Creek Road. you will see the signs for
the winery. Bella Vineyards recently constructed a cave system
for storing and aging its wine. The tasting room is located
within the cave system. The winery specializes in Zinfandel,
producing three Zinfandels from its small estate vineyards.
Two of these vineyards are located in the Dry Creek region and
the third is located in the nearby Alexander Valley. Since the
emphasis is on quality wine, production is very small and the
wines sell out quickly. Our favorite is the Belle Canyon Estate
2001 from the Dry Creek Valley. A few other varieties are also
produced but the Zinfandels are their flagship wines.
Tasting room open daily 11:30 to 4:30
Phone: (707) 473-9171, e-mail:info@bellawinery.com, Bella
Vineyards
Where To Stay in the Russian River Wine Region 
Where to Dine in the Russian River Wine Region
Best Picnic Spots in the Russian River Wine Region
|
